The social costs of pesticides: a meta-analysis of the experimental and stated preference literature.

Pesticide use poses major public health risks and raises environmental concerns globally. We synthesize three decades of stated preferences and experimental approaches that estimate the social costs of pesticide use through consumer and farmer willingness-to-pay (WTP) to prevent or reduce the risks involved. We contribute to the existing literature by demonstrating that the social costs of pesticides vary significantly depending on risk types and levels, where they occur, who is exposed and their risk aversion.

Recent methane surges reveal heightened emissions from tropical inundated areas.

Record breaking atmospheric methane growth rates were observed in 2020 and 2021 (15.2±0.5 and 17.

Assessing the geographical diversity of climate change risks in Japan by overlaying climatic impacts with exposure and vulnerability indicators.

Understanding multifaceted climate change risks and their interconnections is essential for effective adaptation strategies, which require comprehensive assessments of both climatic impact variations and social-environmental exposures/vulnerabilities. This study examines these interconnections and creates multitier delineations of future climate risks across Japan by overlaying homogeneous impact zones (HIZs) with exposure-vulnerability complexes (EVCs). We delineated eight EVC regions, each exhibiting similar patterns of exposure and vulnerability, via multivariate clustering and similarity search on the basis of future population and land cover/use data.

Chlorophyll and topographic patterns demonstrate stress conditions drive the brightness of autumn leaf colour.

Autumn leaf colour brightness is an important cultural ecosystem service. As its spatial patterns and ecophysiological mechanisms remain unclear, we analysed relationships among autumn leaf colour brightness, late summer chlorophyll content, and topographic position in both canopy-based micro-scale analysis and site-based macro-scale analysis. Multispectral drone observations were made in three Fagus crenata forests at elevations of 300, 600, and 900 m in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.

In vivo hyperphosphorylation of tau is associated with synaptic loss and behavioral abnormalities in the absence of tau seeds.

Tau pathology is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease. However, the sequence of events and the form of tau that confers toxicity are still unclear, due in large part to the lack of physiological models of tauopathy initiation and progression in which to test hypotheses. We have developed a series of targeted mice expressing frontotemporal-dementia-causing mutations in the humanized MAPT gene to investigate the earliest stages of tauopathy.

Effects of smokeless tobacco on cancer incidence and mortality: a global systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption remains high despite policies on reduction interventions. This study aims to quantify the associations between smokeless tobacco use with cancer incidence and mortality globally.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and PROSPERO protocol (ID: CRD42023390468).

Elucidating metabolic pathways through genomic analysis in highly heavy metal-resistant strains.

The annotated and predicted genomes of five archaeal strains (AS1, AS2, AS8, AS11 and AS19), isolated from Sfax solar saltern sediments (Tunisia) and affiliated with , were performed by RAST webserver (Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology) and NCBI prokaryotic genome annotation pipeline (PGAP). The results showed the ability of strains to use a reduced semi-phosphorylative Entner-Doudoroff pathway for glucose degradation and an Embden-Meyerhof one for gluconeogenesis. They could use glucose, fructose, glycerol, and acetate as sole source of carbon and energy.

Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in the United States: Operations, revenue, and the impact of scale.

An analysis was conducted using nationwide survey data to evaluate how material recovery facilities (MRFs) operations vary regionally and with scale. The survey characterized materials, processes, and energy use involved with operations, and revenue for recyclables. This is the first nationwide analysis of MRFs in the US that accounts for mass processed, energy consumed, and revenue.

Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Organoids as a Novel In Vitro Platform for Developmental Neurotoxicity Assessment.

There has been a recent drive to replace in vivo studies with in vitro studies in the field of toxicity testing. Therefore, instead of conventional animal or planar cell culture models, there is an urgent need for in vitro systems whose conditions can be strictly controlled, including cell-cell interactions and sensitivity to low doses of chemicals. Neural organoids generated from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a promising in vitro platform for modeling human brain development.

Genetic population structure of the Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, in Japan.

The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Ixodida: Ixodidae), is widely distributed across temperate East Asia, including Japan, and carries a variety of zoonotic diseases. The species includes bisexual and parthenogenetic lineages. Various aspects of these two lineages, such as their abundance ratio, genetic relationship, and population structure, remain unknown in island environments such as Japan that are isolated from the mainland.

Application of an anaerobic reactor for the treatment of sulfide-rich wastewater using biogas for HS removal.

Anaerobic treatment of sulfur-rich wastewater is challenging because sulfide greatly inhibits the activity of anaerobic microorganisms, especially methanogenic archaea. We developed an internal phase-separated reactor (IPSR) that removed sulfide prior to methanogenesis by gas stripping using biogas produced in the reactor. The IPSR was fed with synthetic wastewater containing a very high sulfide concentration of up to 6,000 mg S L with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 30,000 mg L.

Intestinal butyric acid-mediated disruption of gut hormone secretion and lipid metabolism in vasopressin receptor-deficient mice.

Objectives: Arginine vasopressin (AVP), known as an antidiuretic hormone, is also crucial in metabolic homeostasis. Although AVP receptor-deficient mice exhibit various abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism, the mechanism underlying these symptoms remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the involvement of the gut hormones including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and microbiota as essential mediators.

A morphological and molecular study of Ligia exotica Roux, 1828 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Ligiidae) from Japan, with descriptions of two new species.

Ligia exotica Roux, 1828 was originally described based on specimens collected on a ship that came from Cayenne in French Guiana, and has been known to be widely distributed in the world. In Japan this species is the most common in Ligia, and two forms of L. exotica inhabit Osaka Bay, central Japan.

Virtual reality is only mildly effective in improving forest conservation behaviors.

Virtual Reality (VR) enables immersive experiences that can enhance awareness about environmental problems. We measure the effectiveness of VR versus 2D in an environmental campaign using a field experiment in Brazil. 617 passers-by at a mall were randomly assigned to watch a video clip about the Amazon Forest through VR or a traditional 2D device, with some being randomly interviewed before watching the movie (control group).

Associations Between Heavy Metal Exposure from Milk and Steroid Hormones in Mothers.

Environmental exposure to heavy metals is ubiquitous. However, its relationship with steroid hormone levels is not well understood, particularly in pregnant women. This study investigated the association between prenatal heavy metal exposure and steroid hormone levels in an e-waste disposal area in China.

Feasibility assessment of Japan's fertilizer reduction target: A meta-analysis and its implications for nitrogen waste.

Reducing synthetic nitrogen fertilizer (SNF) use is critical for mitigating environmental nitrogen (N) pollution caused by excessive reactive nitrogen and lowering the cost of chemical N fertilizer inputs in agricultural management. In response, Japan has set a national target to reduce chemical fertilizer inputs, with a goal of 30% reduction in SNF use. To assess the feasibility of this target, we collected ca.

Oxidative stress on the male reproductive organs of wild mice collected from an area contaminated by radioactive materials in Fukushima.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident caused the release of large amounts of radioactive material into the environment. Radiation from radionuclides cause DNA lesions, mainly via oxidation, which adversely affect wild organisms by damaging their germ cells. Here, we investigated the effects of radiation on the reproductive organs of Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus) by estimating the dose rate of radiation exposure, the accumulation of DNA lesions, and the expression of DNA repair enzymes.

Leaching of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash intended for utilization as secondary aggregates in road subbase.

Ten samples of mineral fraction derived from waste incineration bottom ash (MIBA) from Denmark (N = 7), Sweden (N = 1), and the Czech Republic (N = 2) underwent targeted analysis of 59 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the solid phase and eluates from a batch leaching test at a liquid-to-solid ratio of 2 L/kg. The solid content, expressed as ΣPFAS, ranged from 0.21 ± 0.

Association of attachment with level of physical activity among dog owners: A cross-sectional study.

This cross-sectional study examined the association of attachment with the frequency of dog walking and physical activity level among dog owners. We analyzed data collected in an internet survey conducted by the Japan Pet Food Association in 2023. Valid data were obtained from 1041 dog owners.

Aluminium porphyrins catalyse the hydrogenation of CO with H.

Boron-based frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have become well-established catalysts for the hydrogenation of a wide range of functional groups. Conversely, aluminium-based FLP hydrogenation catalysts are less common, especially for CO reduction. They are mostly confined to the hydrogenation of imines, alkenes, and alkynes even though aluminium is much more abundant than boron and forms structurally related compounds.

Invasive Seaweed : A Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds with Antioxidant Activity.

(RO) is a species of brown seaweed that has invaded several shorelines worldwide, including the Spanish Mediterranean and the Strait of Gibraltar coasts, causing serious environmental and economic problems. This work aimed to characterize the bioactive composition of RO. A high content of carbohydrates (58.